GasBuddy News Article

Los Angeles Times
--
Mexico's ruling party has taken a step toward opening its state oil company to outsiders, a move that could eventually allow U.S. oil firms to drill south of the border.

In an important test of Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto's sway over resistant factions of his party, the Institutional Revolutionary Party has changed its bylaws to clear the way for changes at Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex.

Pemex, a symbol of nationalist pride, is the top source of tax revenue for the Mexican government. But its production of oil has been declining dramatically and the company is in dire need of outside expertise for deep-sea exploration.

On Sunday, PRI, as the party is known, passed several changes that Peña Nieto needed for the reforms he promised as a hallmark of his administration. Chief and m

Wonder how Obama administration feels about drilling in someone else's backyard? While in Cancun, I was very uneasy at a gas station that reeked of fumes and I was slipping while walking because of the greasy gas and oil covering the station's pavement. Mexico doesn't have the safety rules that the USA has. They could use our expertise.

US companies have been drilling and providing oil field services in Mexico for years, but only as suppliers for Pemex. They've never been allowed to own any of the production. That probably still won't happen under the current Mexican constitution, but Peña Nieto will get as close to that as he can.

The Mexican government has bled Pemex dry for so many years instead of allowing reinvestment in infrastructure that they've about killed the goose that lays the golden egg. Outside investment of some form is desperately needed.

And before you hammer the "corrupt" Mexican government too much, remember that they are running budget surpluses every year, with only a small national debt. Of course they haven't been fighting wars halfway around the world for the last decade.